Ethics Report on Foley Not Expected Before Elections

[cal04]

The House ethics committee has all but wrapped up the investigative phase of its probe into the actions of former representative Mark Foley, informing key witnesses that they will not be summoned back for more questioning, lawyers in the case said yesterday.

But those lawyers indicated that the committee is unlikely to release its report on the Florida Republican -- or even an interim memo -- before the Nov. 7 elections.

The quick pace of the investigation had raised hopes among some Democrats that the committee could release its findings in the coming days, fulfilling a pledge from the committee's top Democrat, Rep. Howard L. Berman (Calif.), that the probe would be wrapped up in "weeks, not months."

The political shock of Foley's sexually explicit instant-message exchanges with former House pages has faded, but questions remain about what senior House GOP leaders knew of Foley's behavior and when they knew it. A committee report could have resurrected Democratic charges of a coverup, some Democrats hoped.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/27/AR2006102701501.html

[MadMaddie]

1. Of course not.....

This is more delay tactics....because the report is devastating to Hastert....

Does anyone know what the polls are in his state?

[Monkeyman]

2. Ya last one had Hastert 52 John42

But with things happening John Thanks to the DU has closed that gap he is now within 7 points. After the new story on Hastert breaks John will beat the fatman.

www.john06.com

[MadMaddie]

4. Good News..

[kath]

3. Wow, what a surprise.

Kick.

[Heidi]

5. Kick.

:kick:

[Demeter]

6. Voters Won't See Report on Foley Scandal AP/WaPo

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/02/AR2006110201695.html

Associated Press
Friday, November 3, 2006; A08



The House ethics committee has been working hard to determine whether Republicans covered up Mark Foley's electronic messages to male former pages, but even 12-hour workdays will not bring conclusions by Election Day.

The lack of a report by Tuesday leaves voters to sort through conflicting Republican accounts in deciding whether GOP leaders did not protect the teenage pages....It won't be easy for voters to find answers without the panel's help.

Speaker J. Dennis Hastert's staff could have learned of inappropriate e-mails as early as 2002 and as late as 2005, depending on whose statements voters believe. The instant messages did not surface until five weeks ago.

Also, two House leaders said they told Hastert (R-Ill.) about Foley's questionable e-mails this spring, but the speaker said he did not learn of them until late September.

A four-member investigative subcommittee interviewed about two dozen witnesses in closed sessions. Witnesses were still being questioned earlier this week.

[ktowntennesseedem]

7. Most dumb enough to vote GOP wouldn't be swayed anyway

That report could say that every repug for the past 50 years has had sexual encounters with pages, girl scouts and farm animals, and the GOP faithful would just blame it all on Clinton. :rant:

Still, would have been nice to had it out for a few media cycles this week.

Hopefully we can still sweep Congress without it, then whatever damning info is finally revealed the Dems will be in a position to do something about it.